AFL trade news: Josh Dunkley requests trade to Brisbane Lions

Josh Dunkley’s trade request to Brisbane Lions will leave the club walking a draft points tightrope. Could a rival expose them by nabbing one of their father-son prospects?

The Western Bulldogs will use Josh Dunkley’s improved statistics across every key indicator since his 2020 trade request to demand two first-round picks from Brisbane for the 25-year-old star.

The Lions on Monday made a spectacular start to their 2023 campaign when Dunkley officially nominated Brisbane as his home of choice next year.

The Herald Sun understands the Lions offered Dunkley a huge six-year deal worth between $700,000-$750,000 and still hope to secure Brisbane free agent Jack Gunston.

The likely acquisition of Dunkley does not impact the club’s capacity to secure Gunston as a free agent if he decides to leave Hawthorn and arguably strengthens the club’s claims given their improved midfield delivery.

Brisbane has cap space set aside for Gunston, who is yet to decide whether to exercise his unrestricted free agency.

Josh Dunkley has made a call to leave the Bulldogs. Picture: Will Russell/AFL/Getty

The Bulldogs had offered a five-year extension to Dunkley and Port Adelaide were prepared to offer $650,000 a season over five years.

Dunkley is a renowned professional and it is understood that at times in recent years he had wondered if his fastidious approach to football on and off the field was being replicated by all of his teammates.

But his decision will also be a fresh start in a Lions midfield that will also add father-son recruits Will Ashcroft (the expected No. 1 overall pick) and Jaspa Fletcher (between pick 15-20) by November’s national draft.

Essendon baulked at the Bulldogs’ trade request at the end of 2020 when list boss Sam Power asked for two first-round picks.

Two seasons on, Dunkley averaged 109 ranking points (up from 104), 25 possessions (up from 18.2), 4.4 clearances (up from 2.8), 6.1 tackles (up from 5.9) and kicked 18 goals (up from six).

So a Lions side that could already go into points deficit will have to offer up next year’s first-round pick but also find a way to accrue more picks or offer players to the Dogs.

Dunkley’s sister Lara plays Super Netball with the Queensland Firebirds, with his girlfriend Tippah Dwan playing in Adelaide on a contract expiring in 2023.

Brisbane’s exit interviews start on Tuesday, with Dan McStay certain to take up a free agency offer at Collingwood.

Dan McStay is set to decide to leave the Lions. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

But the Lions believe free agent Darcy Gardiner will stay and have no plans to allow contracted midfielder Deven Robertson to leave.

The Dogs would be prepared to trade Dunkley, but said in a statement “we will take some time to work through the club’s options leading into the trade period”.

“The club was clearly intent on Josh staying with the Bulldogs, having tabled an attractive contract offer for him to continue with us for the long term,” list boss Power said.

Port Adelaide will move on with other midfield targets but it is understood they will not consider cross-town rival Matt Crouch or Hawthorn’s Brownlow Medallist Tom Mitchell.

The Power are also keen to land West Coast’s Junior Rioli, who they have offered a four-year deal.

The Eagles offer on slightly less money included a three-year deal with a trigger for a fourth season.

Rioli’s move is understood to be about being close to family rather than finances.

Earlier: Dunkley says no to Port

Western Bulldogs midfielder Josh Dunkley has chosen the Brisbane Lions as his destination on a six-year deal worth at least $700,000 a season.

The Bulldogs will be bitterly disappointed and are also set to drive a hard bargain with their trade demands after Dunkley’s exceptional season which was highlighted by a strong Brownlow Medal display, leading all Dogs players.

Port Adelaide was also a strong contender for Dunkley’s services and the Dogs had remained optimistic that Dunkley could still remain at the club after a fourth consecutive finals appearance despite the delay over his decision.

But list manager Sam Power confirmed on Monday that Dunkley had requested a trade to the Lions

“Josh has been weighing up this decision for some time and this news is obviously disappointing for the club,” Power said.

“We believe Josh is at the peak of his powers in a football sense having had a career-best season in 2022, averaging 25 disposals and kicking 18 goals.

“The club was clearly intent on Josh staying with the Bulldogs, having tabled an attractive contract offer for him to continue with us for the long term.

“Given we have only learned the news this morning, we will take some time to work through the club’s options leading into the trade period.”

The Lions also issued a brief statement on the club’s website on Monday: “Western Bulldogs midfielder Josh Dunkley has informed the Brisbane Lions of his desire to join the Club through the upcoming trade period. The Lions will now work with the Bulldogs to secure a mutually beneficial outcome.”

Dunkley was offered a long-term deal of at least $650,000-a-season by Port Adelaide. The Power was adamant their deal was only $650,000 a season despite rivals believing their bid was worth up to $750,000 a year.

Choosing Brisbane will make a trade complicated.

The Lions will match bids for No. 1 overall pick Will Ashcroft and fellow father-son midfield prospect Jaspa Fletcher, who is considered likely to receive a bid at around pick 15-20.

Brisbane currently has picks 15 and 33 and could secure second-round compensation for departing free agent Dan McStay, which could fall at pick 34.

Matching a bid for Ashcroft alone would require 2400 draft points, with the accumulated total of draft selections 15, 33 and 34 worth 2217 total points.

So they would have to use their No. 44 pick (linked to Port Adelaide) to find enough points for Ashcroft even before they tried to bid on midfielder Fletcher, whose father Adrian played 107 games at the Bears and Lions.

The Dogs believe Dunkley could scarcely be a more valuable trade commodity as a 25-year-old midfield star who kicked 18 goals this year.

So they will want more than a first-round pick, and the Lions will likely have no 2022 picks and could be in points deficit with their 2023 first-rounder.

Will Ashcroft is expected to go at pick 1 in November’s draft. Picture: Daniel Pockett/AFL/Getty

If the Lions secured a free agent like Hawthorn’s Jack Gunston they might have to trade a later pick for him to preserve their free agency compensation for McStay.

They will confirm in coming days that Mitch Robinson has played his last game at the club after he said he was “devastated” he could not announce his retirement before round 23.

Brisbane had made a club decision that Robinson announcing his future plans would be distracting, especially given he was still in the selection frame if there were finals injuries.

The 33-year-old has not given up hope of securing another contract elsewhere and while he was furious with the club’s decision, he will move on as a fan favourite after 147 games over eight seasons.

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Originally published as AFL trade news: Josh Dunkley requests trade to Brisbane Lions